Entertainment · Film · 9 hrs ago
Street Fighter film draws mostly negative early reviews
A new live-action Street Fighter film adapts Capcom’s long-running fighting game series.
It stars Noah Centineo as Ken, Andrew Koji as Ryu and Callina Liang as Chun-Li, with Kitao Sakurai directing.
The story brings the fighters together for a world championship tournament organized by the villain M. Bison.
The games are known for their colorful characters and combat, and the film leans into that arcade-style spectacle and 1990s nostalgia.
Most early reviews say the film is confusing and uneven, criticizing its crowded cast, tangled plot and jokes.
Some critics still praised its lively fight scenes, visual style and campy performances, so reactions are not entirely negative.
The film is scheduled to reach theaters on October 16, giving audiences the chance to decide for themselves how well its action and humor work.
Early reviews of the live-action Street Fighter film are mostly negative, with critics describing it as confusing and poorly plotted.
The film received a 41 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, according to Kotaku.
Some reviewers praised its fight scenes, campy tone and entertainment value.
The film is scheduled to open in theaters on October 16.
- Who
- The live-action Street Fighter film and the critics reviewing it.
- What
- Early reviews are mostly negative, though some reviewers found the film entertaining.
- When
- Reviews were published on October 15, 2026. The film is scheduled to open on October 16.
- Where
- The film is scheduled to open in theaters.
- Why
- Not stated
Critics who found the film flawed
Critics who found it entertaining
Plot and storytelling
Critics who found the film flawed
Several reviewers described the film as confusing, thinly plotted or incoherent.
Critics who found it entertaining
Some reviewers praised its campy tone and felt its fights and energy made it entertaining.
Overall experience
Critics who found the film flawed
The Guardian called it a “garish and incoherent mess.
Critics who found it entertaining
IndieWire said it never came close to boring its audience.
The New York Times published its review, describing the adaptation as fun and saying its script could handle its large cast.
The Guardian published a largely negative review of the film.
PC Gamer published a roundup of reviews that it said were not especially kind.
The film is scheduled to open in theaters.
- Rotten Tomatoes
- 41 percent, according to Kotaku
- Director
- Kitao Sakurai
- Ken Masters
- Noah Centineo
- Ryu
- Andrew Koji
- Chun-Li
- Callina Liang
- Theatrical release
- October 16, 2026
5 sources
The New Street Fighter Movie Gets Savaged By Critics, But Not Everyone Hates It
Street Fighter review roundup: sorry, folks, but it sounds like a mess
Street Fighter review – nostalgia only goes so far in junky fighting game movie
‘Street Fighter’ Review: Choose Your Fighter
‘Street Fighter’ Review: An Arcade Classic Gets a Messy, Maximalist Reboot Destined for Cult Status
What people are saying
a garish and incoherent mess that amuses in fits and starts but barely improves on the Mortal Kombat movies before it
a film’s greatest sin is boring its audience, and this “Street Fighter” should take pride in never coming close to doing that.
a fundamentally flawed movie on an underlying storytelling level
very enthusiastic, weirdly convoluted and jumbled mess of a movie